India-Pakistan Visa agreement: One small scribble on paper; one giant leap for relations

ISLAMABAD: A leading Pakistani daily today sought to liken the signing of a landmark India-Pakistan visa agreement that does away with decades-old restrictions to man's landing on the moon.

"One small scribble on paper; one giant leap for Pakistan-India bilateral relations," said the report on the front page of The Express Tribune, echoing the historic words uttered by US astronaut Neil Armstrong after setting foot on the moon in 1969.

The report outlined the highlights of the much-awaited liberalised visa agreement signed yesterday by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

"This is a sign of friendship," Malik said after signing the agreement.

The new regime introduces new categories for group tourist visas and pilgrim visas and eases restrictions on travel by senior citizens, businessmen and persons of one country married to a citizen of the other.

For the first time, citizens aged above 65 will be given a 45-day, single entry visa on arrival.

Multiple-city, one-year visas will be issued to businessmen on the basis of their turnover.

However, the visa fee will be hiked from the current rate of Pakistani Rs 15 to Pakistani Rs 100.